Hypodermic syringe



Patented Jan. 4, 1949 Harold S. Austin, Dallas, Tex. Application July 12, 1947', Serial No. 760,677

The present invention relates toA hypodermic syringes and, more particularly, to the type dis-` closed in my United. States Letters Patent No. 2,409,656 of October 22, 1946, being an improvement thereon with respect to means for disabling the step-by-step successive dosage discharge functioning thereof and for altering the size of the successive dosage discharges thereof.

A general object of the present invention is to provide such a hypodermic syringe with simple but eflicientvmeans readily and economically incorporated in commercial embodiments thereof which by the simplest of manipulations may permit the syringe to be effectively operated in a normal manner of complete discharge of barrel contents by a full stroke of the plunger, or selectively adjusted to assure successive dosage discharges of different predetermined amounts,

while necessitating only rotational adjustmentl of the plunger. I v

A more specic object of the present invention is to provide, in that type of syringe apparatus (featured by a iiip button control forthe plunger to permit each time the control is flipped a foreshortened travel of the plunger), certain Iadjustment means which can readily be rotated between a plurality of positions andtemporarily held in any thereof to carry and hold with it the plunger so that in different radially angular positions of the latter relative to the barrel structure different desired discharge operations may be had without necessitating in the adjustment any removal of the plunger from the barrel or any disabling locking of the control.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in such syringe construction, guide means for the plunger which eiectivelyfprevents the latter from rotating relative thereto and with that means rotatably mounted on the `barrel structure and associated with suitable holding means, whereby it may be adjusted to` and temporarily held in any of a plurality of different radially angularrpositions so that in one of those positions the plunger may be freelyv reciprocated in the barrel, in another of those positions may assure step-by-step forward motion of the plunger successively to discharge doses of certain Volume and in still another of those positions may again dictate such successive discharge of doses of different volume.

A further object of the presentinvention is the provision of structural embodiments ofthe device which are readily constructed and allow efficient use and operation thereof.

1o claims. (ci. iss-215.)

`'Other objects of the invention will in part be ign obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

.The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplied in `the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,l reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is, a. side elevational view, with parts broken away, of one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 isa sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing parts in plan;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3` of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is another elevational view, wthvparts broken away, of the structure shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from a position about at right angles to the position from which theV structure is viewed in Fig. 1, and taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig.V 3;'A

Fig. 5 is a plan View, with parts broken away, of the plunger shaft means and stop plate structure shown in Fig. 3, indicating relative positions of parts during stop` functioning of the stop plate as 'it engages Iin a stop notch on the shaft means;

` Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of certain of the parts of the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, which more particularly relate to the features of novelty; and

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 2, with parts broken away andin section, of a modied form off the invention.

Referring to the drawing, like numerals identify similar parts throughout.' One embodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, employs many parts similar to those. proposed in my prior Patent" 2,409,656 identified above and, as will be seen, it comprises a casing structure IIJ including a casing barrel portion Il preferably windowed at l2 for sight inspection of contents. The lowerl portion ofthe barrel, the needle fitting attached thereto, and the plunger head are not shown, sincethey` may be of common construc' tion or similar to that shown in my prior patent. A circular barrel^ I6, preferably of transparent material` such as glass, is received or telescoped within the barrel portion I I of the casing structure to beheld therein, if desired', in a manner similar; to thatproposed-in my prior patent- The 3 upper end of the barrel portion H is preferably externally threaded to be threadably received within an internally threaded socket of a hub assembly 29 with suitable gasketing I9 interposed between the bottom of the socket in the hub assembly and the top ends of the barrel portion Ii and transparent barrel I6, as indicated in Fig. 4. A lock nut- Zilli may be employed threadably engaged on the externally threaded top end of barrel portion H to cooperate with the hub assembly in securely holding the parts together.

The hub assembly 20 preferably includes a pair flange 23 cut away at 24 at the end of 'wing 22 to provide a passage for projection from the interior of a manually operable control or button 25. Flange 23 is overlaid with a plate 26, preferably held in position by screws 28 and 29 to provide with the wing and flange structure a closed chamber 30. l

The base portion of the hub assembly 20 and the cover plate 26 are respectively provided with aligned holes 3l and 32 to receive therethrough a plunger shaft means 33 for free'reciprocative action. These holes 3l and 32 are of such diameter as to permit free rotation of plunger shaft means 33 for a purpose to be indicated hereinbelow and, in this respect, the present structure differs from that proposed in my prior patent, in order to accommodate novel means for disabling the step-by-step latch mechanism and also to permit selective alteration of the dosage action of theplunger in accordance with the present invention. The plunger means includes theshaft means 33 and suitable plunger head structure on the lower end thereof (not shown) which may be similar to that proposed'in my prior patent. For this purpose plunger shaft means 33 includes a sleeve 34 havinga bore receiving a y rod 35 which holds the plunger head structure to the bottom end of the sleeve, and also is threadably engaged at its top end through a lock nut 31 into an internally threadedhole in an operating knob 44.

vIn. accordance with the present invention this hypodermic syringe structure, which is `generically similar to constructions now in use, is provided with plunger stop mechanism which in some respects is similar to that shown in my prior patent. This plunger stop mechanism preferably is housed in thechamber 39 and may comprise a toggle snap means including a shaped apertured stop plate 4'! through which the plunger shaft means 33 extends. As shownin Fig. 3, Ithe stop plate 41 is pivotally mounted at 48 by .a pin or screw anchored to the hub assembly 20.. The stop plate 4T has an operating arm 49 slotted at 50 slidably to receive a pin orlug 5| on the lower side of a lever operating means. The lever operating means may comprise` alever of the first class, pivotally mounted by means `of screw 29 upon the hub assembly 20 andv having one arm 52 carrying on its lower side lug 5| slidably engaged in slot 50 of the operating arm 49on stop plate 4l. The operator lever has-its other arm 53 provided with a manual control or butt-on 25 projecting through the passage 24' to the exterior of the chamberV 30. 'As' a result, when control or button is swung back and forth about an axis through screw 29, istop plate'4'l ispivoted back and forth 'about its iulcrum pin 48 in the manner of toggle structure. Preferably this action of stop plate 4l is of a snap nature due to the employment of suitable biasing spring means.

Such biasing spring means may comprise a helical compression spring 54 received upon a guiding sleeve 55 provided with a spring abutment 56, and a mountingl ear 5'! pivoted to the finger grip or wing 2 i, such as by means oi screw 28. The helical compression spring 54 receives therein a pin or plunger 58 slidably mounted in the sleeve 55 and pivotally mounted at 59 upon the lstop plate 4l. The plunger 58 is also provided-with a spring abutment dii and the spring 54 is held under compression between that abutment and abutment 56.

The shaft sleeve 34, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, is in this embodiment polygonal in cross-section, preferably square, and it is provided with a plurality of series of abutment means to cooperate with stop means provided by the stop plate 41; although it may be of other cross-sectional shape as explained later in connection with Fig. '7. Such abutment means may be formed by a plurality of notches in diametrically opposed edges such as the series of notches fil-6| in one edge of the sleeve 34 and the series of notches 62-52 in the diam-etrically opposed edge thereof, with'the latter preferably staggered with respect to the former, so as to be arranged substantially intermediate thereof. The relative arrangement of these two series of notches BI-GI and 62-62 is such as to assure discharge from the barrel It of a certain predetermined quantity of fluid when the plunger means is moved a distance equal to the distance between a transverse plane through a notch in one series, such as one of the notches ,5i-5L and a transverse plane through Ythe nearest notch in the other series, such as the next following notch in the series of notches (i2-62.

To assure precise stoppage of the plunger means as dictated by and to cooperate with the two series of notches 6|-l and 62-62, the stop plate 41. has its central portion cut away to receive therethrough the plunger shaft means 93 and to provide on opposite sides oi the latter a pair of stops, such as portion 63 for cooperation with the series of notches 62-62 and portion G4 for cooperation with the series of notches Eil-9 l when7 snapped back and forth to accomplish the step-by-step successive dosage action.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive, the plunger shaft sleeve 34 preferably has its two remaining edges intervening those in rwhich notches (il- 6I and 62--62 are formed, provided with two additional series of notches .l6I--l6l and IGZ-H52. These are preferably located so that the distance between transverse planes through the notches I6! and 162 is substantially twice the distance between transverse planes through the notches 6I and 52. Accordingly, these more widely spaced notches ll-IBI and [B2-|62 may be employed in a manner similar to the use of notches (ii-6| and {i2-t2 for increasing the size of the successive doses to about twice the quantity of the doses assured by the notches 6I-6I and 62-(52. Of course, other relative notch spacings may be employed to permit Aselective use thereof for vdelivery of any desired multiple o r fraction of the dose quantity dictated -by the rst series of notches. e

This extra pair of series of notches itl-ll and'lSZ---IBZ` may be brought into cooperative relation with respect to the same stopy mechanism merely byrotating the plunger shaft means 33 so as to bring notches IGI-ISI and IGZ-|62 into opposed relation respectively with the stop portions 64 and lB3 of the stop plate 41. The means whereby this is accomplished constitutes structure of the present invention which also is selectively employable to`clisable the stop mechanism so as-to hold the stops 64 andV 63 out of the paths ofthe series of notches Sl-BL IBI-IBL (i2-62 and IGZ-S62. For this purpose suitable means are associated with the hub assembly which provides for and permits rotations of the plunger shaft means 33 without necessitating removal of the plunger structure from the barrel structure. For the purposes oi" identication, this means may be referred to as control means for rotating the plunger means to andv temporarily holding it in any selected one of a plurality of positions selectively and alternately to disable and activate the cooperating functioning of the abutment means on the plunger means and the stop means on the barrel structure.

As shown in the drawing, the disabling and activating control means mayk comprise, for the embodiment of Figs. l to 6 inclusive, a circular plate 80 rotatably mounted in a cylindrical recess 8l formed in the top of the housing cover plate 26. The control plate Bmay, if` desired, be provided with a centrally located depression 82 in the topthereof, but it is tobe understood that that depression is not essential to the functioning of the control mechanism. In. the depression 82 of the plate 80 is provided a way,` preferably a hole 88, slidably to receive therethrough the plunger shaft means 33. Since, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the shaft means 33 is substantially square in cross section, the hole 83 in plate 8D is also substantially` square so as to prevent relative rotation betweenl the shaft means and the control plate. Accord-` ingly, the shaft means 33 is permittedr freely to reciprocate through the control plate 88. but cannot rotate relative thereto, and can thus be rotated relative to the housing for the stop mechanism by rotation of the control plate. Of course, the function of apertured; plate 88 may be served by structure having a shaped groove inthe side thereof to serve as the way for slidably receiving and guiding shaft means 33. The control plate 88 can be held by any suitable means relative to the housing in a selected position, such as by ay manually-operable, projectable member engageablewith housing Structure, temporarily to hold the shaft means in a selected radially angular position..

As shown in Figs. l, 2 and 6, more particularly the latter, the manually-operable means for holding the control plate 8l] in a selected` positionmay comprise a bolt 84 having a lower threaded end 85 and a knurled knob head 86 for manual rotation. The control plate 88 may, if desired, be provided with an internally threaded.v hole. 81 to receive therethrough the threaded end 85 of the bolt 84 and, as shown in Fig. 6, the shank of the bolt may be of reduced cross-section, such as may result from removal of .external threads therefin, so that, when the threaded lower end is extended below the bottom face ofthe control plate, the bolt may be freely rotated in the hole 81 without advance while assuring retention to prevent accidental loss. For cooperatingwith the bolt 84, the housing plate 2B is preferably provided in the bottom of the 'recess 8 I with a plurality of localizedl recesses, such asl, 88and` sswliic'h, in the preferred form, are internally -threaded'holes eX- tending into or through the housing plate.' The threadedlower end 85 of the bolt llisadapted, upon rotation of theI manual-knob y86, to be threadably receivedin any one of the' recesses or holes 81, 88 and89. i i

- In operation "of the embodiment of th'epresent invention, shown in Figs. l to` 6 inclusive, the hypoderinic syringe may have its stop mechanism in the housing chamber 38 disabled so that itwill operate in therr1 usual manner of hypodermic syringes, where the entire contents of the-barrel is to be discharged on one strolreof the plunger. This disabling is accomplished by positioning the control plate in an intermediate position, as shown, so that the bolt 84 may have-its lower threaded endV 85 threadably engaged into the middle recess 88 in housing plate 2li when the manual knob 88 is rotated. lThis willtemporarily hold control plate l8r-in its intermediate position with theplunger'shait means 33 held by the control plate in the positionsshown in Figs. 2 and 3. As aresult, opposite flat sides of theplunger shaft sleeve 34 will` be presented. to the opposed stop one-eighth ofa cubic centimeter (1/8 cc.), theV control plate 80 may be adjusted to any position ofY activation of the stop mechanism by manual rotation of the knob 86 to disengage the lower threaded end 85 of the bolt 84 from the recess 88. The control plate 80 can then be rotated counterclockwise until the lower threaded end 85 of the bolt 84 can be threadably engaged in the recess 81, there to holdthe plunger shaft means 3-3 in a new position. i In 'this position of the plunger shaft means 33 its square sleeve 34- will be oriented as shown in Fig. 5, so `that the series of notches, lil- El, or the abutments provided thereby, willbe presented to'the stop portion B4 of the stop plate 41, and the series of notches 82-62, or the abutmentsprovided thereby, will be presented to the stop portion 63 of the stop plate;` Themanual control button L25 may then be swung overl or up,asviewed in Figs. 2 and 3, so as also to swing up the spring-biased stop plate 41 toward? the positionshown in Fig. 5, i. e. to the path of an abutment provided inV the iomation of the first notch El. Depression of the plunger' knob 4'4 will cause the plunger-means 33 to move down vinto the barrel i6 until the stop or engaging* means 84 is' permitted'to clickinto the notch 6|, 'as shown in Fig. 5, to stop travel of the plunger means. vAs a result, a precise or predeterminedamount of fluid will vbe vdischarged from the barrel i6 through the hypodermic needle. l

` For the next dose the manual control button 25 will then be swung back to the positionV indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, so that `the engaging or stop means 63 of the stop plate 41 will be springbiased toward the path o f the abutment provided in the formation of the next following notch'62, which, as previouslyindicated,,is staggered, with respect to 'successivenotchesgll, Sl'so as to positionits abutment in a transverse plane substantially intermediate lof the" two transverse engaging means 63 of the stop plate.

planes of the abutments ofthe successive notches 6|, 6|. The plunger means may then again be depressed until the engaging or stop means 63 clicks into that notch 62 and, as a result, a precise or predetermined amount will again be discharged from the barrel through the needle.

If it is desired to alter the amount of the successive dosages provided by the step-by-step operation of the plunger, such as to an amount about twice that provided by the two series of notches BI-SI and (S2- 62, the plunger shaft means 33 may be rotated to another position to bring into cooperation with the stop mechanism in the housing the two series of notches |6||B| and IGZ-|62. For this purpose, the bolt 84 is disengaged from the recess 81 in the housing cover plate 26 and the control plate 80 is rotated in a clockwise direction so that the lower threaded end 85 of the bolt may be engaged in the recess 89 in the housing cover plate. This will rotate the plunger shaft means so as to present the series of notches |6||6| to the stop portion or engaging means 54 of the stop plate 41 and the series of notches "i2-|62 to the stop portion or The stepby-step operation described above in connection with the series of notches fil-6| and 62-62 are then repeated with the series of notches |6||5| and IGZ- |62 cooperating in similar fashion with the stop mechanism.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modied embodiment of the present invention which includes in the base portion of the barrel structure a housing formed by flanged wings 2| and 22 and overlaid by a housing cover plate 26 to pr-ovide an internal chamber 30. In the chamber 30 is mounted stop mechanism, including a stop plate |41, similar to stop plate 41 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. However, the control lever for swinging the stop plate |41 has intermediate its arms 52 and 53 an enlarged portion 9U, generally cylindrical in outline, to be rotatable snugly against curved inner surfaces of the flange 23 at the end of wing 22 to close off the passage 24 through which the control lever arm 53 extends to the exterior. A circular hole in the enlarged portion 9|) rotatably receives a cylindrical land |21 xed to or made integral with the wing structure 22 in the chamber 30. Screw 29 is threadably engaged in an internally threaded hole in the land |21 to hold the housing cover plate 25 in position which, in turn, keeps the apertured enlargement 90 on the land |21. The lever arm 52 is connected to the stop plate |21 in a manner similar to the connection thereof in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3.

The stop plate |41 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 has on its far end an apertured ear 9| in which is pivotally engaged a cylindrical'lug or pin |59 on the bottom side of the near end of a link frame 92. The far end 93 of the link frame 92 is looped over a cylindrical land 21 fixed to or made integral with wing structure 22 Vin the chamber 30, and that land also has an internally threaded hole therein to receive the screw 28 which cooperates with screw 29 in holding the housing cover plate 26 in position. A helical spring |54 is mounted in the link frame 92 between an abutment shoulder 60 at one end and the land 21 at the other end, so as to bias the stop plate |41 for snap action. The major portion of the link frame 92 between its far end 93 and the vicinity of pin-|59, as well as at that pin, is of a vertical thickness slightly less than the depth of chamber 30 so that the parts will be held together in assembled positions by housing cover plate 26, with suflicient clearance to permit free pivoting and sliding action of the link frame and spring therein. The near end of link frame 92 in the vicinity of and about pin |59, is thinner or stepped at 94 on the bottom side to permit overlapping of stop plate ear 9| with pin |59 received in the latter.

In Fig. '1 the various parts of the stop mechanism are shown in a neutral position intermediate swinging to either side of the stop plate |41, the llink frame 92 and the control button 25. As indicated therein, in such position the spring |54 is under compression with the end 93 of the link frame 92 pushed back beyond the far side of land 21. When the stop plate |41 is swung to either side by the control button 25, compression spring |54 will tend to pull the end 93 of link frame 92 forward, thereby pushing the pivoting lug or pin |59, connected to the stop plate, to an extreme position of swing on either side of the neutral position, as dictated by the direction in which control button 25 is flipped.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, control plate |88 is similar to the control plate 80 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, except that no recess 82 is provided therein, and the hole |83 through which plunger shaft means |33 is slidably mounted, is generally circular in cross section with a longitudinally extending finger 95 provided on one side thereof. The plunger shaft means |33 includes a shaft sleeve |34 which is generally cylindrical in shape but has a longitudinally extending groove onone side thereof slidably receiving the nger 94 to prevent relative rotation between the shaft means and the control plate |80. The shaft sleeve |34 has two pairs of series of notches 6|-6|, 62-82, IBI-IBI and HB2-|52, which may be similar to those series of notches in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, to provide the two pairs of cooperating staggered abutments for cooperative action with the engaging means ofthe stop mechanism.

The housing cover plate 26 of the Fig. 7 embodiment is provided in its recess 8| with three smooth-bored recesses |81, |88 and |89, arranged similarly to the internally threaded recesses or holes 81, 88 and 39 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. The means on the control plate |88 to cooperate with the position-determining recesses |81, |88 and |89, may be a springbiased detent or pin of well known construction having a lifting head |86 for manual engagement, so that when the detent headl is lifted by the lingers to withdraw the lower end of the pin out of one of the position-determining recesses |81, |88 and |89 against biasing spring action, the control plate |89 may then be rotated to another position where the detent pin may be aligned with the particular recess for that position. When the detent is freed its spring will cause it to snap into the recess at that position temporarily to hold the control plate |89 in the selected position. In such a structure with a biasing spring for the detent pushing the detent downwardly, tending to lift the control plate up away from the housing cover plate 26, suitable means should be provided to prevent relative separation. For this purpose, there may bel provided a separate ring plate 96 fastened on the housing cover plate 28 by any suitable means such as screws 91 and with that ring plate provided with a flange 98 overlying the circumferential edge of the circular control plate |88. The control plate |80 vwill thus be retained in the recess 8| of the housing cover plate between the latter and the ring Lplate 96. Of course it Will be understood, that the internally threaded recesses 81, 88 Vandll rand the locking screw 84 maybe substituted ffor the detent recesses |81, |88 and |89 and fthe detent |86 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 if desired, and, in which case the ring plate 95 :maybe omitted. With the use of a circular 4plunger.sleeve.' such as |34 of the Fig. -7 embodiment, ithe :lock nut 31 may be madeintegral with-knob 44with the resulting internally threaded skirt of theknob threadably receiving the externally threaded end of the plunger sleeve and With the end of frod 35 threaded into the knob, cooperatively to lock I the parts together. i

The functioning of the control plate and its locking means in the embodiment of Fig. `'I is, of course, similar to the functioning of the similar structure in the embodiment shown in Figs. `1 to 6 inclusive, and to accomplish similar results.

Obviously, if the shaft 'means is provided with more series of notches in other paths for additional dosage adjustment, i. e. toprovide a similar step-by-step operation of the plunger means for delivery of dosages of different volumewhichmay be either a multiple of vor fractionof the sdosages delivered When the abutment means of `the plunger means of either of the previously-'mentioned series is cooperatively associated with the stop means, the features of .lthe control plate vmay be extended to accommodate the .same by providing additional setting positions for its latch or temporary holdingmeans. Further, it Will be obvious that, if desired, a plurality of dosage-measuring positions for the plunger ymeans may be provided without incorporating the disabling position for free reciprocation of `the plunger means. For example, the disabling .postionrofthe control plate may be eliminated by omission of the recesses 88 and |83 in the embodimentsshewn in the drawing.

It will readily be seen that the present invention provides simple means which Aare-readily manipulated selectively to change the functioning of the stop mechanism of a hypodermic syringe construction of the type disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent 2,409,656, and `to faccomplish'tha't end Without necessitating complete withdrawal of the plunger means from the barrel structure; partial rotation thereof and reinsertion in the barrel stucture in a new radially angular position in order to change the amount of successive dosages deliverable by the step-by-step operation of the plunger means. Disabling 'of Vthe rstop mechanism, so that the hypodermic syringe may r be used to discharge the entire barrel contents with a full stroke of the plunger means,*does not require the employment or provision of separate latch means for the stop mechanism. These adjustments are provided for bythe novel structure of the present invention which allows selective positioning of the plunger means to permit the desired performance thereof by simple rotational manipulation of the control means and its simple holding means. It is thus apparent that 'the objects set forth above among others made apparent from the preceding description are eiciently 4attained and, since certain changes may be `made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained inthe above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not `in a limiting sense. l

It is .also to be understood that .the following claims are intended 'to Ycover all `of the lgeneric and specificfeatures 7of the Ainvention hereindescribed, `and all statements of 'the `'scope `of the invention whichfasa `matter of language, might be said 'tofiall therebetween.

Havingdescribed my invention, `what II claim as new :and desire vtosecure by LetterslPatent .1. In a hypodermic syringe, ythe 'combination with barrelstructure, 4plungerrneans reciprocable in said Ybarrel structure `and having sa series of abutment Almeans arranged longitudinally thereof, andrea Amovable rengaging .stop means .selectively tosbe `positioned in thev path of the series of abutment `means 'when said plunger means is in one radially angular `positionwith rrespect tosaid barrelfstructure se fthatsaid plunger means may be Amoved .longitudinally step-'by-step with respect to barrel structure for successive discharge oftdosages, vsaid stoptinea'ns `being outnof the pathcof the seriesof abutment means when said plunger #means `is. in another radially angular position withrespect to said `barrel structure; Aoi control means for rotating said `plunger means to rand [temporarily holding Lit in one lof the two positions selectively and alternately to .disable and :activate Vthe cooperating 4functioning Vof said abutment :and stop means, .said control means comprising means rotatably .mounted on saidfbarrel structure and having a .way slidably receiving saidplunger means, means substantially preventing relative rotation .between :said rotaia` able 4means and .said plunger means, :and means temporarily yto vhold'said rotatablemeans in :eithe`r of two radially Vangular `positions on said barrel structure reciprocably to .guide vsaid :plunger means in either ofits twopositions.

12. In :a hypodermic syringe, `the combination with barrel structure, plunger .fmeans `reciprocable rin said barrelstructureland having a series of abutment .means `arranged longitudinally thereof, `and a movable engaging Vstop `means selectively to be positioned in fthe path of rthe series rot-abutment Vmeans when Vsaid plunger means is in "one .radially .angular .position with respect tosaid barrel structure `so that said plunger means may rlie moved `longitudinally step--by-step with respect to .said barrel structure forssuccessi-ve discharge of dosages, saidstop means being out of the path of 'the series of abutment means when said plunger means is in another' radially angular lposition `with respecttosaid barrel structure; of control means for `rotating said .plunger means yto and tem-porarily holding it in one of the two .position-s selectively .fandllalternately .to disable and .activate the cooperating functioning of said abutment and stop means, said control means comprising means rotatably mounted on said :barrelstructure and having :a .hole Iextending therethrough slidably receiving said .plunger means, means substan` tially preventing relative rotation between said rotatable means and-said plunger means, and means temporarily `to hold said rotatable .means in eitheroftwo radially angular -positionsfon said barrel structure reciprocably to guide said plunger means in either of its :two positions.

`3. In alhypodermiclsyringe, 'the combination with barrel structure, plungermeans -reciprocable in said barrel `structure and having a series -oi abutmentime'ans arranged longitudinally thereof, and movable engaging stop means selectively lto be positioned in the path of the `series of abutment means when said plunger means is in one radlallylfangularfposition with respect to said barrel structure so that said plunger means may be moved longitudinally step-by-step with respect to saidbarrel structure for successive discharge of dosages, said stop means being out of the path of the series of abutment means when said plunger means is in `another radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure; of control means for rotating said `plunger means to and temporarily holding it in one of the two positions selectively and alternately to disable and activate the cooperating functioning of said abutment and stop means, said control means comprising means rotatably mounted on said barrel structure and having a hole extending therethrough slidably receiving said plunger means, said plunger means and side walls of the hole being so shaped complementary to each other as substantially to prevent relative rotation between said rotatable means and said plunger means, and means temporarily to hold said rotatable means in either of two radially angular positions on said barrel structure reciprocably to guide said plunger means in either of its twopositions.

v4. In a hypodermic syringe, the combination with barrel structure, plunger means reciprocable in said barrel structure and having a series of abutment means arranged longitudinally thereof, and movable engaging stop means selectively to be positionedin the path of the series of abutment Ameans when said plunger means is in one radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure so that said plunger means' may be moved longitudinally step-by-step with respect to said barrel structure for successive discharge of dosages, said stop means being out of the path of the series of abutment means when said plunger means is in another radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure; of control means for rotating said plunger means to and temporarily holding it in one of the two positions selectively and alternately to disable and activate the cooperating functioning of said abutment and stop means, said control means comprising means rotatably mounted on said barrel structure and having a -way slidably receiving said plunger means, means substantially preventing relative rotation between -said rotatable means andsaid plunger means, and manual means on said; rotatable, means toengage said barrel structure temporarily to hold said rotatable meansv in eitherof two radially angular positions on said barrel structure recprocably to guide said plunger means in either of its two positions.

5. In a hypodermic syringe,v the combination with barrel structure, plunger means reciprocable in said barrel structure and having a series of abutment means arranged longitudinallyA thereof, and movable engaging stop means selectively' to be positionedin the path of theseries of abutment means when said plunger means is in one radially angular position with respect to saidbarrel structure so that said plunger means may be moved longitudinally step-by-step with respect to said barrel structure for successive discharge of dosages, said stop means being out of the path ofthe series of abutment means when said plunger means is in another radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure; of control means for rotating said plunger means to and temporarily holding it in one of the two positions selectively and alternately to disable and activate the cooperating functioning of said abutment and stop means, said control means comprisinga plate rotatably mounted on said barrel structure and having a hole extending therethrough slidably receiving said plunger means, enter engaging means on said plate and said plunger means substantially preventing relative rotation therebetween, and means temporarily to hold said plate in either of two radially angular positions on said barrel structure recprocably to guide said plunger means in either of its two positions.

6. In a hypodermic syringe, the combination with barrel structure, plunger means reciprocable in said barrel structure and having a series of abutment means arranged longitudinally thereof, and movable engaging stop means selectively to be positioned in the path of the series of abutment i means when said plunger means is in one radially angular positionl with respect to said barrel structure so that said plunger means may be moved longitudinally step-by-step with respect to said barrel structure for successive discharge of dosages, said stop means being out of the path of the series of abutment means when said plunger means is in another radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure; of control means for rotating said plunger means to and temporarily holding itin one of the two positions selectively and alternately to disable and activate the cooperating functioning of said abutment and stop means, said control means lcomprising a plate rotatably mounted on said barrel structure and having a hole extending therethrough slidably receiving said plunger means, interengaging means on said plate and said plunger means substantially preventing `relative rotation therebetween, and manual means on said plate to engage said barrel structure temporarily to hold said plate in either of two radially angular positions on said barrel structure reciprocably to guide said plunger means in either of its two positions.

7, In a hypodermic syringe, the combination with barrel structure, plunger means reciprocable 'in said barrel structure and having a series of abutment means arranged longitudinally thereof, and a movable engaging stop means selectively to be positioned in the path of the series of abutment means when said plunger meansis in one radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure so that said plunger means may b ey moved longitudinally step-by-step with respect to said barrel structure for successive discharge of dosages, said stop means being out of the path of the series of abutment means when said plunger means is in another radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure; of control means for rotating said plunger means to and temporarily holding it in one of the two positions selectively and alternately to disable and activate the cooperating functioning of said` abutment and stop means, said control means comprising a plate rotatably mounted on said barrel structure and having a hole extending therethrough slidably receiving said plunger means,- interengaging means on said plate and said plunger means substantially preventing relative rotation therebetween, means providing a plurality of recesses in said barrel structure beneath said plate, and a manually-operable projectable member mounted on said plate selectively;to enter any one of the recesses in said barrel structure when said plate is rotated on the latter from one position to another temporarily to hold said plate relative to said barrel structure in a selected position.

8. Ina hypodermic syringe, the combination with barrel structure having a housing, plunger means reciprocable in said barrel structure through said housing and having a plurality of cooperating series of abutment means arranged longitudinally thereof with each series located in a different path, and a plurality of movable engaging stop means mounted in said housing alternately to be positioned in the paths of the plural series of abutment means when said plunger means is in certain selected radially angular positions with respect to said housing so that said plunger means may be moved longitudinally through said housing step-by-step for successive discharge of dosages, said stop means being out of the paths of the plural series of abutment means when said plunger means is in another radially angular position with respect to said housing; oi control means for rotating said plunger means to and temporarily holding it in any one of the mentioned positions selectively to disable and activate the cooperating functioning of said abutment and stop means, said control means comprising a plate rotatably mounted on said housing and having a hole extending therethrough slidably receiving said plunger means, interengaging means on said plate and said plunger means substantially preventing relative rotation therebetween, means providing a plurality of recesses in said housing beneath said plate, and a manually-operable projectable member mounted on said plate selectively to enter any one of the recesses in said housing when said plate is rotated on the latter from one position to another temporarily to hold said plate relative to said housing in a selected position.

9. In a hypodermic syringe, the combination with barrel structure, plunger means reciprocable in said barrel structure and having a plurality of series of abutment means arranged longitudinally thereof with each series located in a different path, and movable engaging stop means selectively to be positioned in the path of one of the series of abutment means at a time when said plunger means is in one radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure so that said plunger means may be moved longitudinally step-by-step with respect to said barrel structure for successive discharge of dosages of certain. volume, said stop means being in the path of another of the series of abutment means when said plunger means is in another radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure so that said plunger means may be moved longitudinally step-by-step with respect to said barrel structure for successive discharge of dosages of certain other volume; of control means for rotating said plunger means to and temporarily holding it in any one of the mentioned positions selectively and alternately to bring into cooperation with said stop means the dierent series of abutment means, said control means comprising means rotatably mounted on said barrel structure and having a way slidably receiving said plunger means, means substantially preventing relative rotation between said rotatable means and said plunger means, and means temporarily to hold said rotatable means in any of its rotational positions on said barrel structure reciprocably to guide said plunger means in any of its dosage-measuring positions.

10. In a hypodermic syringe, the combination with barrel structure, plunger means reciprocable iny said barrel structure and having a plurality of series of abutment means arranged longitudinally thereof with each series located in a diierent path, and movable engaging stop means selectively to be positioned in the path of one of the series of abutment means at a time when said plunger means is in one radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure so that said plunger means may be moved longitudinally step-by-step with respect to said barrel stru-cture for successive discharge of dosages of certain volume, said stop lmeans being in the path of another of the series of abutment means when said plunger means is in another radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure so that said plunger means may be moved longitudinally step-by-step with respect to said barrel structure for successive discharge of dosages of certain other volume, said stop means being out of the paths of all of the series of abutment means when said plunger means is in still another radially angular position with respect to said barrel structure; of control means for rotating said plunger means to and temporarily holding it in any one of the mentioned positions selectively and alternately to bring into cooperation with said stop means the different series of abutment means temporarily to activate the cooperating functioning of said abutment and stop means and at will to disable that cooperating functioning for free reciprocation of said plunger means, said control means comprising means rotatably mounted on said barrel structure and having a way slidably receiving said plunger means, meanssubstantially preventing relative rotation between said rotatable means and said plunger means, and means temporarily to hold said rotatable means in any of its rotational positions on said barrel structure reciprocably to guide said plunger means in any of. its dosage-measuring positions and its free reciprocation position.

HAROLD S. AUSTIN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Austin Oct. 22, 1946 Number 

